The power of Twitter

If you’re one of these people who underestimated the power of sites like Twitter (like I did), here’s a tale that might make you change your mind.

I changed my existing BT Broadband package to another one. I’d got a better deal than what I’d been paying before (I was paying more than anyone else I knew for my package) and was pretty pleased about it.  Then I got a letter from BT saying that as I had cancelled my contract ‘early’ they were hitting me with a whopping £100 charge.

I was angry about this for a number of reasons –

1. As far as I was concerned, my contract was already up. BT had not told me any different when I changed my broadband package.
2. I had NOT been warned about any charged before I switched. Customers should always be made aware of charges BEFORE they change not after.
3. It wasn’t like I was changing from BT to another supplier.

I was so incensed about what had happened, I emailed BT and then tweeted about it.

Two hours later I got an email saying they had seen my tweet and the charge had been made in error and they would refund me.

I also tweeted about an Amazon order that had failed to arrive and was a week late. Initially, Amazon had told me that I needed to wait another week before I would qualify for a refund. After they responded to my tweet I got a refund within hours.

The thing I have learned from all this is when you feel you are treated unfairly by a company by all means gets angry about it. Scream, shout and then when your anger calms down, tweet about it. You may be pleasantly surprised by the results. I know I am.

P.S. If you want to follow me on Twitter my user name is @jenthom72

5 Questions to ask before you submit that novel

Isn’t it time you put yourself in the reader’s place when you write?

Before you send your hard work off to a publisher or agent, try and put yourself in the footsteps of a reader.

Ask yourself these 5 questions –

1. If you were a reader would the opening engage you and make you want to read on?  If it wouldn’t then maybe you need a rewrite/a change of POV/to start in another place.
2. Are you relying on your brilliant fifth or eleventh chapter for them to say yes? If you are then you need to look at your opening again. Well, would you keep on reading a novel out of the prospect of it getting better later on? I know I wouldn’t. There are too many good books and not enough time.
3. Does every chapter move the story on? If it doesn’t, can you do without it? Who wants to read padding? 
4. Have you added something new to the genre, so a reader can say,’ yes, that book’s about a detective whose partner still helps him to solve crimes despite being in a catatonic state.’ Incidentally that’s what my WIP crime novel Vile City is about. You need something distinctive that’s your own.
5. Remember, that most of all publishers are looking for books they know people will want to read. Is your book one of them? If it’s not, try and rework it or start again. As difficult as that is – hey, I’ve been there, blubbing as I cut my wonderful prose – sometimes it is necessary. All of the best authors have manuscripts gathering dust in a drawer that won’t be published.

As I write this, I am waiting for the opportunity to gut my WIP so that when I ask myself those 5 questions I can come up with satisfying answers. Wish me luck. Think I am going to need it!

Isn't it time you got into international cinema?

The bizarre world of the ticket inspector in Kontroll

I love foreign language films that are so good that you almost forget you are reading subtitles. Movies so good that you remember them long after you watch them.

I wrote about 7 of the very best for Shadowlocked.com. If you like the sound of them the article includes links to trailers.

Check it out at  http://www.shadowlocked.com/201106021871/lists/7-foreign-language-films-that-are-worth-the-subtitles.html